Ministry warns of dengue outbreak

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

The Health Ministry yesterday warned the public of a possible dengue
outbreak and rapidly spreading vector-borne diseases due to rains
experienced in the night and the warm weather experienced during the
day.

The North and East have the highest risk of a possible dengue
outbreak, a ministry spokesman said. According to the spokesman,
vector-borne diseases can spread throughout the country, especially in
the North and the East, due to the weather. “The country experiences
rain at night and the day is extremely warm. Those are ideal conditions
for mosquito breeding,” he said.

A total of 22,244 dengue cases had been reported during the past 11
months from all over the country. The total number of dengue deaths
reported during the same time period is 151. Around 57.56 dengue cases
had been reported from the Western province. July recorded the highest
number of dengue cases, the spokesman said.

The Health Ministry has strengthened treatment and care offered to
dengue patients through State hospitals on the direction of Health
Minister Maithripala Sirisena.